Health Disparities

Health disparities have the largest impact on the access, quality of care and outcomes overall in many patient populations defined by factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, education level, income, disability, geographic location. Many other factors also play a role, including if a patient is in a rural of urban location, distances to hospitals, pharmacies and clinics. These factors of inequitable access or healthcare are often directly related to the historical and ongoing unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources. This page includes content defining health disparities and efforts to address them.

High cost of cardiac amyloidosis drugs may limit access for low-income patients
"We cannot accept a system where only those with means can benefit from life-changing drugs. We are a wealthy nation that spends trillions on healthcare. We must ensure that income and wealth do not determine access," explained JACC Editor-in-Chief Harlan M. Krumholz, MD.
Researchers use wearable fitness trackers to monitor sleep, CVD risk
A new two-year study is focused on the potential of using commercially available fitness trackers to identify patients who may face an increased risk of CVD.
AHA expands efforts to spread the word about CKM syndrome
This is a rapidly growing area of interest in cardiology as research continues to find close links between heart disease and kidney disease.
How anti-DEI healthcare policies are impacting patient care
All over the United States, countless research projects designed to improve outcomes have lost funding or been shut down. Even screening efforts targeting patients in impoverished communities have been impacted by these policies.
AMA deeply concerned about Trump policies and cuts to healthcare spending
American Medical Association President Bruce Scott, MD, has expressed major concerns about significant healthcare spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration. These include reductions to Medicaid, deep cuts to NIH funding, staffing reductions, and policy changes at key federal agencies.

Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc, vice dean for diversity and inclusion, chief of cardiology in the Department of Medicine, and a professor of medicine in cardiology and medical social sciences at Northwestern Medicine, discusses health equity issues in cardiology at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2022 meeting.

VIDEO: Health equity and diversity is a business model

Clyde Yancy, MD, vice dean for diversity and inclusion, chief of cardiology, and a professor of medicine in cardiology and medical social sciences at Northwestern Medicine, discusses health equity issues and how greater inclusion should be a business model because of changing demographics.

Late-breaking cardiovascular study presentation at AHA 2022. #AHA22

VIDEO: Key takeaways from AHA 2022

Manesh R. Patel, MD, chair of AHA Scientific Sessions program, explains what he saw as the top takeaways from AHA 2022.

Leslee Shaw, PhD, MSCCT, FACC, MASNC, FAHA, director of the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a former president of both SCCT and ASNC. She explains the sex differences in cardiovascular imaging presentations in women versus men.

VIDEO: CT can play a role in identifying women's differences in cardiovascular presentations

Leslee Shaw, PhD, director of the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a former president of both SCCT and ASNC, explains the sex differences in cardiovascular imaging presentations in women versus men.

Patients digging deeper into household budgets for imaging exams that aren’t mammography

Why are patients paying far less out of their pockets for mammography now than two decades ago—while shelling out a lot more for other common imaging exams?

Disparities in breast cancer detection and care persist, despite a drop in mortality, new ACS report reveals

While Black women have lower incidence of breast cancer diagnosis, their mortality rates are 40% higher than those observed in white women.

VIDEO: Gender differences in women with cardiovascular disease and implications for imagers

Erin D. Michos, MD, co-editor in chief of the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, discusses gender differences in heart disease presentations.

LaPrincess Brewer, M.D., a Mayo Clinic preventive cardiologist and principal investigator of the study, explains a heart model.

An immediate impact: Smartphone app boosts health of Black patients in just 10 weeks

A new trial for participants from 16 church groups in Minnesota showed that app users significantly improved their heart health scores after just 10 weeks.

Cardiologists applaud new research on social/structural determinants of health among heart patients

The American Heart Association and Association of Black Cardiologists announced the winners of a six-month data challenge, describing health equity as "one of the most pressing areas in healthcare.”

Health Disparities

High cost of cardiac amyloidosis drugs may limit access for low-income patients

Researchers use wearable fitness trackers to monitor sleep, CVD risk

AHA expands efforts to spread the word about CKM syndrome

How anti-DEI healthcare policies are impacting patient care

AMA deeply concerned about Trump policies and cuts to healthcare spending